M.M. Tripodo

Antiulcer activity of Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae): ultrastructural study.

In Sicily folk medicine, Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. cladodes are used for the treatment of gastric ulcer. We studied the effect of administration of lyophilized cladodes on experimental ethanol-induced ulcer in rat. In this paper, we report the ultrastructural observations of gastric mucosa. The ultrastructural changes were observed by trasmission electronic microscopy (TEM) confirming the protective effect exercised by administration of lyophilized cladodes. Pre-treatment test in rats revealed a protective action against ethanol-induced ulcer. Probably, the mucilage of Opuntia ficus indica is involved.

SCP and crude pectinase production by slurry-state fermentation of lemon pulps

Single cell protein (SCP) and crude pectinolytic enzymes production from citrus pulps is reported. SCP and enzymes were produced by slurry-state flask cultivation of Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma viride on pulps from lemon juice clarification. Production as well as crude pectinase activity was not affected by the high dry matter content of the pulps. Both the protein content in the residue and the enzyme activity in the supernatant were higher in T. viride than in A. niger culture. The crude pectinase of T. viride, whose specific activity was similar to that found for a commercial concentrated preparation, could be utilized in the same citrus processing factory as well as in other factories which use large amounts of pectinolytic crude preparations, for example to enhance depuration plant performance.

Biological effect of Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae) waste matter Note I: diuretic activity

In this work we studied in rat the diuretic activity of Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae) waste matter. The cladodes, flowers and non commerciable fruits were collected in S. Cono (CT, Sicily) cultivation. Acute and chronic diuretic activity of 15% infusion of cladodes, flowers and fruits were assayed. Natriuresis, kaliuresis and the activity on fructose-induced hyperuricemia was also studied. The results show that O. ficus indica cladode, fruit and flower infusions significantly increase diuresis. This effect is more marked with the fruit infusion and it is particularly significant during the chronic treatment. The fruit infusion shows also antiuric effect. In all experiments cladode, flower and fruit infusions showed a modest but not significant increase in natriuresis and kaliuresis.

Citrus waste recovery: a new environmentally friendly procedure to obtain animal feed

Citrus juice centrifugation pulp is the semi-solid product obtained from the industrial centrifugation of juices, to obtain a clear juice. This waste causes many economic and environmental problems because of its fermentability. In this paper we describe a method which makes it possible to obtain animal feed from citrus juice centrifugation pulp. To this end, alkaline and/or enzymatic treatments were carried out on the centrifugation pulp. These treatments facilitate pressing and so help to produce a material which, using suitable methods, may be dried. Enzyme treatment proved to be the most efficient of the methods under investigation designed to favour the pressing of the pulp. The product obtained with this method showed excellent digestibility in vitro and its protein content, although not especially high, compared favourably with that of many other agroindustrial waste products currently used as components of animal feed.

Study on the increment of the production of gastric mucus in rats treated with Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. cladodes

Opuntia ficus indica cladodes are used in traditional medicine of many countries for their cicatrisant activity. The major components of cladodes are carbohydrate-containing polymers, which consist of a mixture of mucilage and pectin. In this paper we studied the cytoprotective effects of cladodes on experimental ethanol-induced ulcer in rat. The O. ficus indica cladodes administration gives rise to cytoprotection phenomena by breaking up the epithelial cells and stimulating an increase in mucus production. When O. ficus indica cladodes are administered as a preventive therapy, keep the gastric mucosa under normal condition by preventing mucus dissolution caused by ethanol and favouring mucus production. An increase of mucus production is also observed during the course of the curative treatment. The treatment with O. ficus indica cladodes provokes an increase in the number of secretory cells. Probably, the gastric fibroblasts are involved in the antiulcer activity.

Flavonoids recovery and SCP production from orange peel

Abstract Further results of research on orange peel utilization are presented. From the solid residue obtained after an acidic pretreatment of the peel, hesperidin, a high-value byproduct, may be recovered in larger quantities and at lower cost than for a traditional method. A continuous fermentation for SCP production, utilizing Geotrichum candidum , was carried out on the pretreatment liquid. These results are discussed.

Yeast production from virgin grape marc

An alternative utilization of virgin grape marc (VGM) to produce SCP from S. ceretisiae is reported. A simple extraction method of fresh grape marc produces a sugar-rich solution: through fed-batch fermentation, a high-value yeast biomass instead of a low-value product like ethanol can be produced. Productivity and quality of yeast are similar to these obtainable from molasses. The convenience of yeast production from VGM is briefly discussed; it appears of great interest in south Italy and generally in grape-producing countries, specially if these lack relevant sources of fermentable sugars.

SCP from orange peel by fermentation with fungi—Acid-treated peel

Abstract Orange peel was submitted to an acidic pretreatment. After filtration, a cellulosic residue, suitable as a feedstuff for ruminants, weighing 35–45% of the initial dry matter, was obtained. The fermentation was then carried out on the filtered liquid by utilizing Geotrichum candidum . Single cell protein containing 35–40% crude protein characterized by a very high in vitro digestibility (73–88%) was obtained. Advantages of this system, besides the high quality of the product, are a reduction of the fermentor size in comparison with submerged fermentation and the solution of the problems linked to the disposal of the final liquid. In fact this liquid, because of its reduced volume, may be partially concentrated and added to the residue of the pretreatment.

SCP from orange peel by fermentation with fungi—Submerged and ‘surface’ fermentations

Abstract Orange peel was employed as a fermentation substrate to produce single cell protein (SCP) by utilizing Trichoderma viride and Geotrichum candidum . Submerged fermentations lasted about 60 h and gave rise to a final product, composed of a mixture of SCP and orange peel residue, suitable as feedstuff; this contained about 20% crude protein and 23% crude fibre and had an invitro total digestibility of about 65%. Fermentations in the presence of little water, according to a new system which may be called ‘surface fermentation’, gave rise to a biomass of a higher nutritional value (about 30% crude protein and 80% in-vitro total digestibility), but with a decreasing production efficiency with time.

Effect of SO2, NaOH and Na2CO3 pretreatments on the degradability and cellulase digestibility of grape marc

Abstract As part of research on the utilization of grape marc as a carbon source for single cell protein (SCP) production, virgin grape marc (VM) and exhausted grape marc (EM) were pretreated at high temperature with water, SO2, Na2CO3 and NaOH solutions in various concentrations. The effect of these treatments was determined by measures of dry matter, nitrogen, ADF, lignin and cellulose, as well as of total cellulase digestibility on the residual grape marcs. The drying of original marc, even at 70°C, severely affected the susceptibility to degradation of lignocellulosic materials (LCM). Therefore storage in a damp state is necessary. The addition of Na2CO3 (about 10% on dry matter) served this purpose and also acted as an efficient pretreatment agent. NaOH (1%) solution at 120°C caused the greatest degrading effects, but also a notable solubilization of nitrogen compounds; 1·5% SO2 solution at 100°C had a good effect on VM but not on EM; 0·5% NaOH solution and 1·0% Na2CO3 solution showed intermediate features.